Alabama Football: Crimson Tide back on top with No. 1 class

Alabama football finished No. 1, in 2019 recruiting, despite the Crimson Tide missing out on two top prospects on National Signing Day.

For Alabama football Wednesday was a return to normal after last year’s aberration of a No. 6 recruiting class. On National Signing Day, the Alabama Crimson Tide added three more players to the 24 players previously signed during the early period.

Alabama football has room to add another scholarship player. The Tide staff will consider all available options, particularly a graduate transfer.

Perhaps the biggest get of the day for Nick Saban was not a player signing. It was persuading former 5-Star, Eyabi Anoma that transferring was not in his best interest. It certainly would not have been in the best interest of the Crimson Tide. Anoma has the potential to excel as an edge rusher next season.

The Alabama football 2019 signing class is exceptional. The real measurement for each class is future performance. The eighth Alabama football, No. 1 class in nine years is, at least based on recruit rankings, one of Nick Saban’s best.

Recruiting for need

Saban always recruits for need. He filled almost all the Tide’s needs with the 2019 class. Numbers were needed at safety and at cornerback and the Tide added five defensive backs, three of them, top 100 players. The offensive line needed depth as well. Five offensive linemen were added including 5-Star, Evan Neal.

The position group needing the biggest roster addition was the defensive line. Nick Saban added six d-linemen, including 5-Star Antonio Alfano and three top 100 players. Arguably, it is the best defensive line class ever signed by Nick Saban.

The misses were few in number

There were misses. No team ever signs every player it wants. Clearly, the loss of Tosh Lupoi had an impact. OLB, Khris Bogle and ILB, Henry To’oto’o might have joined the class if Tosh had still been a member of the Tide staff.

Rival schools and media detractors will talk about some other misses. Christian Williams, Jerrion Ealy and George Pickens will be used as examples. However, Williams did not flip. In early December it was accepted he would sign elsewhere. Ealy could be a great college player but most likely will choose MLB and never play a down of CFB. 5-Star, George Pickens, had not been on Saban’s Big Board for at least two months. Few recruiting experts believe Pickens will qualify academically.

As far as the real misses – Bogle is a year or two away from having the body to fulfill his tremendous potential. The Alabama football staff wanted him but he would have had no impact in 2019. Missing on To’oto’o is a loss. He can become a great player at a position of considerable need for the Crimson Tide.

There is good news on the misses. The Tide roster includes 12 returning linebackers, plus the four added in the 2019 class. Two and perhaps three of the incoming linebackers can play inside. New inside linebacker signees Shane Lee and Christian Harris are highly rated 4-Star players. King Mwikuta could also play outside and inside linebacker. If Mwikuta moves inside, next season’s roster will have seven inside linebackers. The group will not have much experience but signing To’oto’o would have added no experience.

It is interesting Nick Saban when asked in his post-NSD review about filling an open roster slot, discussed the need at tight end. He did not mention linebacker.

Alabama football fans should celebrate and not be distracted by a couple of misses. National Signing Day, 2019 was a good day for the Alabama Crimson Tide.